Gang-plow.



` A. MEGHAMQ.

GANG PLOW. v V AP'LIOATION FILED 00T.l0, 1908. 91 8, 182. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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A Igp) I Y d w/NEssEs' I '/-NVENroH A TTOHNE Y S A. MEGHAM.

' GANG PLOW. APPLICATION FILED OOTJTO, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909Y 2 SHEBTS`SHEET 2.

WITNESS/SS l ATTORNEYSv Cfr lib-@E 'STATES OFFTCE,

ADELBERT MECHAM, OF EDINBURG, NORTH DAKOTA.

GANG-PLOW.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, iDELBERr MEOHAM, a citizen or` the United States, and a resident oi Edinburg, in the county ol Vtlalsh and State of North lalrota, have invented a new and Improved Gang-Plow, oiE which the following is a Jfull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to gang plows that are progressively moved by applied power, and hasfor its obj ect to provide novel details oi' construction for a gang plow, which adapt the series of individual plows forming gang and that are arranged laterally in sequence, to automatically adjust themselves so as to conform with the undulations of the soil that is being plowed 5 and a further object is to so construct the attachment between each individual plow beam and the main frame beam, that said connection will be caused to automatically release a plow that is held 'from progress by an obstruction in or on the soil that is traversed by the gang plow.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination oi' parts, as is hereinafter described and deiined in the appended claims.

Reference is toV be had to the accompany ing drawings forming a part of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reifen ence indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view oi the improved gang plow; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached view of wheeled frame supports, a main frame beam, and adjusting means for changing the elevation of said beam with relation to the ground; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged partly sectional side view of an end portion oi the main frame beam, an end portion of an individual plow beam seated and secured on the main frame beam, and novel means for automatically detaching the individual plow beam from the main frame beam.

In the drawings, 5 represents the main frame beam, which serves to support and space apart the individual beams for a gang of similar plows that are arranged laterally and rearward of the mainframe beam, as will be hereinafter hilly set forth. The beam 5 may be formed of a hard wooden planl 'faced with plate metal, but as shown, is preferably constructed in the form of a recessed bar, that may be of iron or steel, having suitable dimensions for eiiective service, and strength to resist strains. Two trucks are provided for the support of the beam 5, at a proper Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fried October 10, 1908.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 457,037.

distance above the ground, each truck comprising a bent axle e, and a pair orp traction wheels 6nl rotatably mounted upon the respective ends oi the axle. The trucks are suitably spaced apart and secured upon the main frame beam 5, preferably at an equal distance from the ends thereof.

The means for attaching an axle 6 to the main frame beam 5, as shown, consists of a center brace 7, and two side braces 7 a. rl"he side braces for each axle are joined at their upper ends upon the upper end of a respective center brace 7, and diverge therefrom, extending toward opposite ends ci a corresponding axle body. One brace 7 for each truck is irmly secured upon the axle body as shown at a, and the complementary brace 7 "l which trends oppositely, has a lapped and secured engagement with the main trame beam 5 as appears at a, and thence passes through the beam, the extended end thereoiI being attached to the bent body of a respective axle 5. The axles are so arranged and secured to the main trame beam by the braces 7 a, that their bent portions are disposed below the plane of the spindles on their ends which engage the traction wheels 6a and also below the mainframe beam 5, as shown in Fig. 2.

Two sectors 8, 8 are details oi' the improvement, these similar sectors having their convex edges furnished with teeth. The sectors are erected upon the main frame beam 5 near each other, and at an equal distance from the center of said beam, the toothed convex edges ci the sectors facing each other. Two adjusting levers 9, 9 are employed which at respective ends arc pivoted upon the main frame beam 5 as shown at c and thence project toward each other.

Near the longitudinal center oi each lever 9, a post d is upwardly projected from a respective axle 6, and upon the upper end of each post one et the levers is pivoted. Near the free end of each lever' 9, a slot opening is formed therein, through which is inserted a respective sector 8, and adjacent to each sector a pawl e is pivoted on the lever through which said sector is inserted and engages between the teeth of the latter. lt will be seen that by the adjustment of the levers 9, at their ends which engage the sectors 8, the opposite ends oi said levers will be correspondingly raised or lowered, which will elevate or depress the end portions of the main frame 5.

The individual beams l() of a series oi The gang of individual plows are of similar construction, and may .be of any preferred style t'hat'isbest adapted for effective service.

' In the drawings, 10a represents the simi-lar standards for the plurality of plows, each standard projecting down :of Aa suitable length :from La respective beam 1t), .and tzOb in* dicates the l.compleinentary mold board or share for respective plows, and which in .use turns the soi ner.

beam 10., by bolts lg, g, as is indicated by 4dotted lines Fig. 3. Upon the upper surf face of .each plow beam 10, near the forward end thereof, a keeper plate 11 is mounted,

.these similar keeper plates each having 2a ref cess t' in the lower side near the front .end thereof, which receives .a binding mrt .g2 that is screwed upon the .bolt g and .serves with said bolt as .a means for seournig the near `end g .of a res. Aeotive washer plate f upon the ienf:

gaged :p ow beam 10.

The lice,l er plate 11 foreach plow beam l@ is yield-in y secured thereupon by means of a coiled spring l2, that is mounted upon the r upwardly extended portion of Lthe `scr-.ew ,gwhich passes through said keeper plate, :and f .above said sL ringen the -holt two j am nutslr are mounte which by adjustment regulate the resilient pressure of the spring l2., upon :that it is light., strong and durable., is .adapted the keeper plate il 1.

,A plurality yof bracket .arms 1.3, are secured upon the front edge of the main frame beam 5, and spaced Aapart a distance equal to that which separates the plow beams 1-0 from i each other at their forward ends, these siniilar arms .curving forwardly .and upwardly .as shown ,for one arm in Fig. 3.

cured by its loose engagement with the hookl-ike forward end t" of said keeper plate, .and as sho-wn in Fig. 3, said link inclines forward v and downward, and at its lfront looped end is i hooked upon a respective .curved arm 1.3 op- -i i plow beam seated .at .one end thereof on the main :frame beam, a spring-pressed keeper.

posite which it is sposed.

Qn the main frame beam 5, at suitable` pom-ts vof separation, the rear ends of three g draft rods 15., are secured, as :shown at m 'in in :a furrow the usual manv such draft power with the .elevis ringo.

The forward vend ofen/ich plow 4beam l@ entends over the main frame beam .5, and laps upon `an intervening washer plate f Vvvhicih is scoured on the. upper side of a respective l on said Aextended end is secured, this rod or bar serving as .a lateral brace for the draft rods 15.

V'allie converging ends of the braces 7, 7 on ,the front axle 6, are secured at g upon the .brace .bar 1.6, whereby they arerrnaintained upright. ln a like manner, the rear braces 7, T vare Vlapped upon and secured to the outer draft rod 15 at their forward ends, as shown at r in Fig. 1.

The 4completed gang plow may be coupled .to a .source of power .and-progressive moveement, such as a plurality of draft .animalsorV a traction engine, by a loose :connection of lt will :be seen that the main :ir-ame beam k5, may be permitted .sutlicient movement to yield .and conform to the undulaticns .of the soil over which .the machine is drawn, which action may be facilitated by ra proper adjust' ment of .the levers .9. Y 4

hf any one l`ol the individual plo-ws should strike yagainst an obstruction, and :be arrestf ed, the link 14 that couples this plow with the main frame beam .5., will be pulled from its hooked engagement with the correspond.- in-g lceeper plate 11., due to .the yielding of tliie .spring 12., which will detach the indi-Y vidual plow vfrom the beam .5. lf the I.detaohed plow is an intermediate one, that should be replaced in order to properly plow the soil, Aand if the detached plow is rendered unserviceable., .one of the plows .at an .end `ol the main frame beam .5., maybe detached from its normal position, and be substituted for the ini ured one., thus enabling a .continuation of the plowing operation. I

It is claimed tor this improved gang plow,

tinuation of the plowing operation..

ln the forward ortion of the recess i, lthat is formed in .each reeper plate 11, one looped end of a coupling link 14, is removably se- Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Lette-rs latent.: Y

l.. ln gang .plow :of the character described, the detachable connection between the main frame beam and gone of a plurali-.ty of individual plow beams, `ocndp-rising a bent arm on the main frame beam, an individual plate on the individual plow beam, and .a 4coupling link having hooked engagement iat its .ends respectively upon an end of the keeper plate and upon .the bent arm.

2.. ln a gang plow, a main beam.,'a pluraltty of plows, .and'means for connecting the plows to the beam, Leach of said means `comprising .an arm V on .the main beam, .a spring pressed keeper plate on the plow beam and a coupling link engaging the arm and the keeper' plate respectively.

3. In a gang ploW, a main beam, a plurality of plow beams, and means for detachably connecting each of said means to the beam, each of said means comprising an arm on the beam, a keeper plate, a bolt traversing the plow beam and the keeper plate, a spring on the bolt engaging the keeper' plate, a nut threaded on the bolt against which the spring rests, and a link connecting the keeper plate with the arm.

il. ln a gang plow, the combination With a resilient main frame beam, a plurality of individual plows, the beams of which lap at the forward ends on the main frame beam, and means for releasably securing the plow beams on the main frame beam, of trucks that support the main frame beam, each l l l l truck comprising a bent axle and traction Wheels thereon, braces fixed at like ends on each bent axle, draft rods attached at one end thereof upon the main frame beam and converged at their opposite ends, which are secured upon a coupling plate, and a brace barv extended between the main frame beam and the coupling plate, the converged ends of the races on the front axle being secured on said brace bar, and the converged ends of the braces on the rear axle being attached to one of the draft rods.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ADELBERT MECHMI.

Witnesses PAT. PAUL, C. BUCK. 

